Person re-identification using deep foreground appearance modeling

Person reidentification is the process of matching individuals from images taken of them at different times and often with different cameras. To perform matching, most methods extract features from the entire image; however, this gives no consideration to the spatial context of the information present in the image. We propose using a convolutional neural network approach based on ResNet-50 to predict the foreground of an image: the parts with the head, torso, and limbs of a person. With this information, we use the LOMO and salient color name feature descriptors to extract features primarily from the foreground areas. In addition, we use a distance metric learning technique (XQDA), to calculate optimally weighted distances between the relevant features. We evaluate on the VIPeR, QMUL GRID, and CUHK03 data sets and compare our results against a linear foreground estimation method, and show competitive or better overall matching performance

Wear performance optimization of Silicon Nitride using Genetic and simulated annealing algorithm

Replacing damaged joint with the suitable alternative material is a prime requirement in a patient who has arthritis. Generation of wear particles in the artificial joint during action or movement is a serious issue and leads to aseptic loosening of joint. Research in the field of bio-tribology is trying to evaluate materials with minimum wear volume loss so as to extend joint life. Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is non-oxide ceramic suggested as a new alternative for hip/knee joint replacement. Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) is recommended as a solid additive lubricant to improve the wear performance of Si3N4. In this paper, an attempt has been made to evaluate the optimum combination of load and % volume of hBN in Si3N4 to minimize wear volume loss (WVL). The experiments were conducted according to Design of Experiments (DoE)–Taguchi method and a mathematical model is developed. Further, this model is processed with Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Simulated Annealing (SA) to find out the optimum percentage of hBN in Si3N4 to minimize wear volume loss against Alumina (Al2O3) counterface. Taguchi method presents 15 N load and 8% volume of hBN to minimize WVL of Si3N4. While GA and SA optimization offer 11.08 N load, 12.115% volume of hBN and 11.0789 N load, 12.128% volume of hBN respectively to minimize WVL in Si3N4

Intracaesarean forceps application

Background: In a time when repeat caesarean deliveries are becoming more frequent, more elective LSCS are being performed and floating vertex are commonly encountered. Sometimes fundal pressure is not adequate, and the physician needs to use instrument (vaccum/forceps) to deliver the head. The objective of the present study is to evaluate maternal and neonatal complications of intracaesarean forceps applicationMethods: This was an interventional study which was conducted in OBGY department of Sassoon General Hospital, Pune for 1 year. 75 cases including both emergency and elective sections were included in the study, in which intracaesarean outlet forceps was applied.Results: Out of 75 cases, maternal complications were seen in 5 cases with uterine incision extensions being the commonest (4%). Neonatal complications were seen in 3 cases, with minor facial injuries due to pressure of forceps being commonest (2.6%).Conclusions: Intracaesarean forceps when applied skillfully can be effective, fast and safe technique of delivering fetal head in this rising trend of caesarean sections

Anisotropic flow from Lee-Yang zeroes: a practical guide

We present a new method to analyze anisotropic flow from the genuine correlation among a large number of particles, focusing on the practical implementation of the method.Comment: 4 pages; contribution to Quark Matter 2004, Oakland, January 11-17, 200

The centrality dependence of v2/epsilon: the ideal hydro limit and eta/s

The large elliptic flow observed at RHIC is considered to be evidence for almost perfect liquid behavior of the strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma produced in the collisions. In these proceedings we present a two parameter fit for the centrality dependence of the elliptic flow scaled by the spatial eccentricity. We show by comparing to viscous hydrodynamical calculations that these two parameters are in good approximation proportional to the shear viscosity over entropy ratio and the ideal hydro limit of the ratio v2/epsilon.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figures - To appear in the conference proceedings for Quark Matter 2009, March 30 - April 4, Knoxville, Tennessee - final version without line number

Elliptic flow in the Gaussian model of eccentricity fluctuations

We discuss a specific model of elliptic flow fluctuations due to Gaussian fluctuations in the initial spatial $x$ and $y$ eccentricity components \left\{\mean{(\sigma_y^2-\sigma_x^2)/(\sigma_x^2+\sigma_y^2)}, \mean{2\sigma_{xy}/(\sigma_x^2+\sigma_y^2)} \right\}. We find that in this model \vfour, elliptic flow determined from 4-particle cumulants, exactly equals the average flow value in the reaction plane coordinate system, \mean{v_{RP}}, the relation which, in an approximate form, was found earlier by Bhalerao and Ollitrault in a more general analysis, but under the same assumption that $v_2$ is proportional to the initial system eccentricity. We further show that in the Gaussian model all higher order cumulants are equal to \vfour. Analysis of the distribution in the magnitude of the flow vector, the $Q-$distribution, reveals that it is totally defined by two parameters, \vtwo, the flow from 2-particle cumulants, and \vfour, thus providing equivalent information compared to the method of cumulants. The flow obtained from the $Q-$distribution is again \vfour=\mean{v_{RP}}.Comment: Very minor changes, as submitted to Phys. Lett.

Principle of Balance and the Sea Content of the Proton

In this study, the proton is taken as an ensemble of quark-gluon Fock states. Using the principle of balance that every Fock state should be balanced with all of the nearby Fock states (denoted as the balance model), instead of the principle of detailed balance that any two nearby Fock states should be balanced with each other (denoted as the detailed balance model), the probabilities of finding every Fock state of the proton are obtained. The balance model can be taken as a revised version of the detailed balance model, which can give an excellent description of the light flavor sea asymmetry (i.e., $\bar{u}\not= \bar{d}$) without any parameter. In case of $g\Leftrightarrow gg$ sub-processes not considered, the balance model and the detailed balance model give the same results. In case of $g\Leftrightarrow gg$ sub-processes considered, there is about 10 percent difference between the results of these models. We also calculate the strange content of the proton using the balance model under the equal probability assumption.Comment: 32 latex pages, 4 ps figures, to appear in PR

Molecular tailoring of thermoreversible copolymer gels: some new mechanistic insights

We earlier reported the role of hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions on the transition temperatures of thermoreversible copolymer gels. We show here that the chemical structure of the hydrophobe and its concentration determine the transition temperatures [lower critical solution temperature (LCST)] and the heat of transition of new hydrophobically modified poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) [PNIPAm] copolymer gels. The gels, prepared by copolymerizing NIPAm monomer with hydrophobic comonomers containing increasing lengths of alkyl side groups and a terminal carboxyl acid group, showed lower LCST and lower heat of transition when compared to pure PNIPAm gel. The experimental results were also compared with theoretical calculations based on a lattice-fluid-hydrogen-bond [LFHB] model. We show experimentally and theoretically that a linear correlation exists between the transition temperature and length of the hydrophobic alkyl side group. Also, in apparent contradiction to previous work, we found a reduction in the heat of transition with increasing hydrophobicity. We propose that the presence of the terminal carboxyl acid group on the hydrophobic side chain of the comonomer prevents the association of water molecules around the hydrophobe, thereby causing a reduction in the heat of transition. The LFHB model supports this argument